Tasting note

Nose

Sultanas come flying enthusiastically into the nose immediately. The alcohol nose brings something extra. Full-bodied aroma that gets more interesting by the minute. A nice powerful sweetness and after a while the nutty aromas emerge from the glass. All nicely balanced and nothing overpowering.

Taste

Over 20 years of wood aging we can clearly taste. Something rustic is in there, mossy and wet forest, but also fresh fruit, but that lovely dark red fruit like plums and red apples. Of course, we also taste grapes, but not those very sweet ones. Powerful flavour.

Finish

Sultanas and currants predominate in the finish, along with a bitterness from the wood.

The distillery

The Domaine de Baraillon is located just outside Lannemaignan in the Bas-Armagnac. The pretty little estate is surrounded by sunflower, maize and wheat fields and, of course, vineyards. Driving past the Domaine, you wouldn't even know that Armagnac is produced here, were it not for a large barrel on the side of the road with their name written on it. 

Claverie's Armagnacs are a combination of two properties: 4 hectares owned by Patriach Paul's sister in Le Freche and 12 hectares around his house. All vineyards are full of the three major grape varieties, Baco, Colombard and Ugni Blanc. Until 2012 they used the Loubere distillery in Labastide d'Armagnac, but in 2012 they bought their own stills in which they now turn their wines into spirits. The fresh eau de vie normally goes into 5,000-litre casks before being transferred to smaller barrels. Both new and old barrels are used for this purpose. The barrels are regularly aerated to promote oxidation. The oldest stocks date back to the late 19th century and it occasionally seems as if time has stood still at Domaine de Baraillon. Tradition and quality are therefore highly valued by the family.